Wash. State CPL history

[sailor]

Not anything of great import, but does anyone out there know when the state of Washington first issued concealed pistol licenses? I have tried to find some history on the matter, but nothing so far. Everyone uses Florida as the first CCW licenses - October of 1987. I have forgotten when I got my first WS CPL, then moved to New Mexico, then got my Wa. Out-of-State license. Seems like Washington has had CPL since forever.
sailor

[tcotariu]

Not sure about Washington, but I can assure you that Florida was not first in 1987. I still have the first license I ever got – Chatham County, GA issued 10-04-82.

[TR4A]

Originally Posted by sailor

Not anything of great import, but does anyone out there know when the state of Washington first issued concealed pistol licenses? I have tried to find some history on the matter, but nothing so far. Everyone uses Florida as the first CCW licenses - October of 1987. I have forgotten when I got my first WS CPL, then moved to New Mexico, then got my Wa. Out-of-State license. Seems like Washington has had CPL since forever.
sailor

Washington started issuing Concealed Pistol Licenses in 1961.

[tattedupboy]

You're right in that many believe that Florida was the first state to issue CCW licenses, but in fact, nine states (WA, NH, ND, SD, IN, CT, AL, ME, and VT) were shall issue/unrestricted before FL passed its law in 1987. WA passed its law in the 60s. NH has been shall issue for the longest, having been so since the 20s. Technically, because it has never had a law against carrying concealed handguns, VT is the only state where carrying concealed has never been against the law.

[Teamdigit]

Originally Posted by TR4A

Washington started issuing Concealed Pistol Licenses in 1961.

Yeppir. Got my first one in April of '72 after turning 21. Had permits ever since. 37 years of CCW without a single hostile incident. Either I'm doing something right, or I don't get out of the house much.